Suction cleaner



June 26, 1945. R. c. osBonn I 2,379,316

SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l f INVEN TOR.

June 26, 1945. R. c. OSBORN 2,379,316

SUCTION CLEANER Filed ma 5, 194: s Sheets-sheaf 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIW IIIIIL I INVENTOR. 15 04175 (703507)? gQ /bzaw June 26, 1945. c, QSBORN 2,379,316

SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 5, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR;

Patented June 26, 1945 SUCTION CLEANER Ralph C. Osborn, North Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 5, 1943, Serial No. 485,687

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction clean- -ers in general and more particularly to a new and novel nozzle-height adjusting mechanism for suction cleaners. More specifically the invention comprises a new and novel semi-automatic nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism in which the suction cleaner automatically positions its surface-contacting-and-cleaning parts at an optimum position relative to the surface undergoing cleaning upon reception from the operator of an actuating force. f

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism for a suction cleaner. Still another object of the invention is to provide new and novel semi-automatic nozzle-height-adjusting means in a suction cleaner. A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism in a suction cleaner in which the operator need not judge the degree of adjustment required but need only provide an actuating force. A still further object of the invention is to provide a semi-automatic nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism for a suction cleaner in which one or more of the nozzle-height-supporting means are movably mounted upon the cleaner body and are repositioned to give an optimum nozzle height adjustment whenever the operator depresses a foot pedal. Still another object of the invention is to provide a simplified semi-automatic nozzleheight-adjusting mechanism in which the exertion by the operator of a pedal-depressing force results in the raising of the cleaner nozzle into an inoperative position and the determination by the cleaner of the relative position of the top plane of the surface covering and of the cleaner supporting means so that upon the withdrawal of the pedal-depressing force the mechanism can integrate itself in accordance with the determination made. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon ponsidering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed, and in which the same reference character refers to the same part throughout:

Figure l is a side elevation, with certain parts broken away, of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention positioned upon a bare surface or very thin covering;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial section upon the line of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section looking in the direction of the arrows upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a, partial side elevation of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away to show the nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism with the operating pedal depressed and the device determining the plane of the supporting surface;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and shows an intermediate step 'in the adjustment in which the depressing force upon the foot lever is being removed subsequent to the determination of the plane of the support and prior to the final setting as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a partial side elevation of the cleaner with the bare floor nozzle adjustment of Figure 1 but with the machine positioned upon a, relatively thick supporting surface, the nozzle being too low and rendering the machine difficult to operate;

Figures is a view similar to Figure 7 but with the foot lever depressed and the mechanism determining the top plane of the supporting surface;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with the lever-depressing force partially withdrawn and the parts movingfinto new relationship in accordancewith the determination made of the plane of the supporting surface; and

Figure 10 is a view of the mechanism in its setting resulting from the steps shown in Figures 8 and 9. g

The early forms of nozzle height adjustment mechanisms for suction cleaners comprised manually adjustable devices by the use of which the operator could position the nozzle in accordance with his own judgment. The ordinary suction cleaner being a relatively low height device for the operator to use this early formof nozzle-height-adjusting.means it was necessary for him to bend over the machine into a relatively uncomfortable position. .In addition to the discomfort and the lack of convenience in the adjustment there was the additional and more important factor that the judgment of the operator as to the proper nozzle position for the covering to be cleaned usually was not accurate. So long as the resulting adjustment produced a relationship in which the cleaner was easy to propel it was likely that the Operator would conclude that the adjustment was proper, and

the fact that the nozzle was too high and was not cleaning effectively might well escape his attention entirely. Another objection to this old type of adjustment resided in the fact that frequently it was neglected entirely, the operator preferring to use the machine in any adjustment rather than to bother to change it.

In the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention the nozzle height adjustment is entirely independent of the judgment of the operator and the making of the adjustment does not require that he do more than exert a slight actuating force; as for example, with his foot.

The usual semi-automatic nozzle height adjustments of the past have made use of the nozzle itself as the means to gauge or determine the plane of the top of the supporting surface. This was possible. The nozzle lips are relatively wide and are capable of supporting the front end of the machine with but relatively little sink into the supporting surface. The present invention does not rely upon the nozzle lips to make a determination in the adjusting operation and instead a surface covering gauge or feeler is provided which supports no part of the cleaner weight and which functions to determine the top plane of the surface covering. Upon a bare surface or a very thin rug the top plane of the surface and the plane of the supp rting wheels will be substantially identical and the nozzle will have a relatively low height adjustment. In a relatively thick covering in which the supporting wheels sink to an appreciable distance the feeler or gauge will determine that the top plane of the supporting surface is above the plane of the supporting wheels and the adjusting mechanism will effect an adjustment in which the nozzle is relatively high. The final setting-affected is, however, a matter of design, the essence of the invention being that a feeler or gauge selects that setting.

Referring again to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and is seen to comprise a nozzle I formed with surfacecontacting lips 2 and 3 and which is interiorly connected by an air passaleway 4 to the inlet 5 of a fan chamber 8. Fan chamber 8 is formed with an exhaust outlet 1 and houses a suctioncreating fan 8 carried by the depending lower end of a motor shaft 8. The cleaner motor is not shown but is of any suitable type and is positioned within the motor hood or casing |I immediately above the fan chamber. A rotatable agitator l2, including rigid beater elements and flexible brush elements, is rotatably positioned within the nozzle and is adapted to contact a lifted surface covering between the lips 2 and 3. A- power-transmitting belt I3 connects agitator I2 to a pulley formed upon the lower end of the motor shaft 9 so that in cleaner operation the rotation of the motor shaft effects both the rotation of the fan 8 and of the agitator I2.

The cleaner body is formed with side skirts H which extend from the sides of the nozzle I rearwardly and around the machine to the rear of exhaust outlet 1 where their junction forms a rear wall I6 which carries manually adjustable bag-retaining means H which function to seat removably. the lower end of a dirt-filtering bag I 8. As in the usual cleaner a handle I9 is pivoted to the cleaner body and provides means by which the operator can exert a, propelling force.

The cleaner is movably supported upon rear wheels 2|, which arefixedly attached to. the un- CPI derside of the cleaner body, and by front wheels 22 which are pivotally mounted by crank shaft 23 which extends transversely across the machine. The ends of crank shaft 23 are formed as axles or shafts 24 and it is upon these shafts that the wheels 22 are directly mounted, a. coil spring 28 being provided which extends between one shaft 24 and a fixed abutment 21 on the underside of the cleaner body to exert a force which tends at all times to pull wheels 22 rearwardly and upwardly and so to lower the cleaner nozzle. The position of the front wheels relative to the cleaner body fixes the height of the cleaner nozzle and the wheel position is itself determined by the nozzle height adjustment which is constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The simplified nozzle-height-adjusting mechanism comprises three principal parts which are a foot pedal or lever 3|, 2. feeler or gauge 32, and a toothed sector, selector or locking element 33. Foot pedal, 3|, which includes a laterally extending portion protruding under and to the side of the adjacent skirt I4, is pivoted upon the underside of the machine forward of one of the wheelsupporting shafts 24 upon a fixed pin 36 which is substantially in alignment with the central part of the crank shaft 23. Pin 36 is carried by a bracket 31 affixed to the adjacent side skirt I4 and is encircled by a coil spring 38 one end of which extends under the lever 3| while the opposite end contacts the rear wall of the nozzle as an abutment. This spring at all times exerts a force tending to lift the rear end of the lever. Foot lever 3| is pivotable between two angular positions in one of which, the upper, it is held by spring 38 against an overlying abutment 38 which extends inwardly from the side skirt I4. In its lowered position pedal 3| is restrained from further downward movement by its contact with the wheel axle 24 which it has pressed downwardly and forwardly until the wheel 22 contacts an abutment 4I formed upon the rear wall of the nozzle I. The foot lever 3| during its downward movement contacts the wheel axle 24 and thereafter cannot move without depressing the wheel, a movement which is illustrated by comparing the wheel positions of Figures 1 and 5.

The feeler or gauge 32 is pivoted upon a pivot pin 43 which is carried by a depending bracket 44 at a point rearwardly of and above the wheel axle 24. The abutment element 21 for the coil spring 26 can be made and is shown as made integrally with this bracket 44 in Figure 4. A coil spring 46 encircles the pivot pin 43 and exerts a force between the bracket 44 and the feeler 32 which tends at all times to move the overturned large area end of the feeler into contact with the top plane of the supporting surface, a position which is illustrated in Figures 6 and 9. On its rearward edge feeler 32 is formed with a shoulder 48 which is so positioned as to lie in the orbit of the rearward extremity of foot pedal 3|. The relationship is'such that with the foot pedal released and in its upper position, shown in Figures 1 and '1, the feeler 32 is also held in its upper position by the pedal, the pedal-actuating spring 38 being sufficiently stronger than the feeler-actuating spring 46 that the latter is overcome. Feeler 32 carries a small laterally projecting locating pin 41 the purpose of which will become apparent.

The third principal part of the adjustment mechanism comprises the toothed sector, selector or locking element 33. Sector 33 is also pivoted upon the pin 43 which carries the feeler 32 but is freely movable thereon without interference from the coil spring 46. The forward end of sector 33 comprises a plurality of seats which may be likened to teeth and which are contoured to seat individually the adjacent wheel axle 24. The individual seats of the selector 33 are at different distances from the pivotal axis of the selector comprising the pin 43 and their relationship to the crank shaft 23 is such that the coil spring 26 at all times tends to draw the adjacent wheel axle 24 into contact therewith. This the spring accomplishes except when the pedal 3| is depressed by the operator. The relationship of the selector 33 to the feeler 32 is such that with the latter depressed under the actuation of its spring 46 into contact with the supporting surface, a condition which is present whenever the foot lever is depressed, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 9, the position of the selector or locking element 33 is as determined by the position of the feeler-carried pin 41 upon which it rests. It is clear, therefore, that the position of the selector as fixed by the feeler will determine the point of engagement of the wheel axle with the selector upon the operator releasing the pedal. The seat on the selector which the axle engages determines the angular position of the crank shaft relative to the cleaner body and so the height of the wheels 22 relative thereto.

It is believed that the operation of the invention can be best understood by referring to the two adjustment operations which are illustratedin the various figures. The cleaner is shown with its nozzle properly positioned for cleaning upon a very thin covering or bare surface in Figure l, and I in Figures 5 and 6 two intermediate steps which precede the final adjustment of Figure 1 are shown. In Figures '7 to 10, inclusive, are illustrated the various steps in the adjustment which are necessary when the machine with the nozzle adjustment illustrated in Figure l is transferred to a relatively thick covering and thereafter the nozzle is adjusted to proper position for that covering, a final adjustment illustrated in Figure 10.

Referring now to the bare floor adjustment as illustrated in Figure 1, this adjustment was obtained by placing the machine upon a bare fioor and depressing the foot lever 3| by a force upon the laterally extending extremity thereof at the side of the cleaner skirt l4. As lever 3| moved downwardly, illustrated in Figure 5, and forced the wheel 22 downwardly and forwardly until it abutted the abutment stop 4| at the rear of the nozzle I. Further movement of the wheel was then prevented and so long as the operator-exerted force upon the pedal continued the machine would remain with the nozzle raised as illustrated in Figure 5. Upon the foot lever 3| being depressed its rearward extremity disengaged the overturned shoulder 48 on the feeler 32 and permitted that element to be pivoted in a clock-wise direction by the action of its spring 46 until the large area lower extremity thereof contacted the bare surface as illustrated in Figure 5. As the positioning pin 41 carried by the feeler contacted the locking sector 33 the feeler moved that element upwardly until it assumed the position illustrated in Figure 5, the strength of the spring 46 being sufficient to accomplish this result. Thereafter as the operator-actuated depressing force was withdrawn from the foot lever 3| and the lever pivoted upwardly, the coil spring 26 acting upon the crank shaft 23 pulled the crank shaft rearwardly and moved the adjacent wheel axle 24 into seating relationship with the lowermost seat of the selector it contacted the wheel axle 24 as 33. As this lower seat is nearest to the pivotal axis of the selector it is seen that the wheels 22 have been given their uppermost position which, of course, would correspond with the lowest nozzle position. Final engagement of the wheel axle with the lower seat of the sector 31 definitely positioned the wheels 22 as illustrated in Figure l. The continued upward movement of the released foot lever 3| under the actuation of its own coil spring 38 resulted in its rearward extremity again contacting the overturned shoulder 48 of the feeler 32 and efiected the movement of that element to its upper and inoperative position against the counter-force exerted by its own and weaker spring 46, this final inoperative position bein illustrated in Figure 1.

Assume now that the cleaner adjusted as in Figure l is placed upon a relatively thick and deep covering as illustrated in Figure '7. Clearly the nozzle I is now digging into the supporting surface and the operator would find the machine hard to propel and inefficient cleaning would result for it would be impossible to lift the surface covering from the supporting surface. To adjust the nozzle. to its optimum cleaning position for this covering the adjustment is similar to that previously described in connection with the bare floor and is illustrated in the various steps in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive.

The first step is illustrated in Figure 8 and the operator there has depressed the foot lever 3| and has moved the front supporting wheels 22 forwardly until their forward movement is prevented by the stop 4|. The feeler element 32, having been released by the rearward extremity of the foot lever 3|, has been pivoted downwardly by its I coil spring 4'6 and rides in contact with the top plane of the supporting surface. The rug bein relatively thick, the supporting wheels 22 and 2| have sunk into the surface covering an appreciable distance. Because of its contact with the top plane of the supporting surface. the feeler 32 wil1 be unable to pivot as farm a clockwise direction under the actuation of its coil spring 46 as in the adjustment upon as a result it will support the selector 33 at a lower position through its pin 41. It follows then that as the downward depressing force upon the foot pedal 3| is withdrawn and the wheels move rearwardly, that the wheel-carrying shaft 34 will engage one of the seats of the sector at some point above the lower seat which it previously engaged. As the higher seats on the selector are at progressively increasing distances from the pivotal axis of the selector, it follows that the crank shaft and the wheels 22 will be held at a lower position than in the first adjustment and that correspondingly t' e nozzle will be higher.

The movement of the shaft toward an intermediate seat is illustrated in Figure 9. Clearly with an extremely thick rug the feeler 32 would be at a still higher position and the selector 33 would be even lower so that in the extreme condition the shaft 24 would engage the uppermost seat. As the operator continues to withdraw the downward force upon the foot lever 3| it finally reaches its uppermost position under the actuation of its spring 38. Further movement is prevented by the stop 39. As in the first adjustment, the rear end of lever 3| contacted the abutment shoulder 48 of the feeler 32 and in moving to its final position lifted that element against the counter-force of its own spring 46, that is, from the position illustrated in Figure 9 to that illustrated in Figure 10. In this final position, the

the bare floor andwheel axle 24 is locked against; the selector 33 by the action of the coil spring 26 which draws the wheel axle rearwardly. I

The machine is now readyfor operation and will function with maximum effectiveness for the covering and the nozzle are properly related. So long as the machine operates upon the covering no further adjustment is necessary but upon being moved to a new covering the operator need only again depress the foot lever in order to produce an adjustment which is that required for the new covering.

I claim:

1., In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, 3. wheel, and means to adjust said wheel relative to said body in accordance with the characteristics of a supporting surface comprising, an adjustable connection between said wheel and said body, adjustable means normally securing said connection in fixed relationship to said body during cleaner operation, operator operable means to release said adjustable means upon the reception of an operator-exerted force, feeler means movable relative to said adjustable means to determine the top plane of a supporting surface by resting thereon free of the weight of said body and connected to and adapted to position said adjustable means while resting freely on said surface, said operator operable means including means to move said feeler means to an inoperative position upon the removal of said operatorexerted force.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a wheel, mounting means movably mounting said wheel on said body, movable positioning means to engage said mounting means to fix the position thereof during cleaner operation, feeler means movable independently of said positioning means to determine the top plane of a supporting surface and to support said positioning means while resting on said surface, and operator-operated means to disconnect said mounting and positioning means in order that the latter can contact said feeler means and be positioned thereby, said operator-operated means including means to lift said feeler means from its contact with the supporting surface upon the removal of the operating force therefrom.

3. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a wheel, mounting means movably mounting said wheel on said body, movable positioning means to engage said mounting means to fix the position thereof during cleaner operation, feeler means movable independently of said positioning means to determine the top plane of a supporting surface and to support said positioning means while resting on said surface, and operator-operated means movably mounted on said body to cam said mounting means, under a force received from the operator the amount of which is unrelated to the adjustment to be made, from said positioning means to release the latter into positioning contact with said feeler means with the latter in contact with a supporting surface, said operator-operated means including means to lift said feeler means from said covering upon the withdrawal of said force and the reengagement of said mounting and positioning means.

' 4. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a wheel, a crank shaft pivotally mounting said wheel on said body, spring means exerting a force on said crank shaft and tending to move said wheel toward said body, a foot pedal pivoted on said body and arranged to contact said crank shaft under the actuation ofa downward force and to pivot same to move said wheel fromsaid body against the action of said spring, a positioning element pivoted on said body and including a plurality of seats adapted to contact and seat said crank shaft to retain the latter selectively at a plurality of angular positions and said wheel at a plurality of heights relative to said body, a feeler element pivoted on said body for movement downwardly into contactwith a supporting surface, said feeler element including means to support said positioning element while resting upon said surface, said pedal including means to lift said feeler element from said covering after the removal of said downward force and after the movement of'said crank shaft into seating engagement with said positioning element.

5. In a suction cleaner, a body includingra nozzle, awheel, a crank shaft pivotally mounting said wheel on said body, spring'means exerting a force on said crank shaft and tendingto move said wheel toward said body, a foot pedal pivoted on said body and arranged to contact said crank shaft under the actuation of a downward force and to pivot same to move said wheel from said body against the action of said spring, a pivoted plate on said body formed on one edge with a plurality of spaced seats adapted to seat said crank shaft in various angular positions ofsaid plate and to position said crank shaft at various angular positions with said wheel as various heights relative to said body, a spring-pressed feeler element pivoted on said body for movement into contact with the top plane of a supporting surface, the position of said feeler element relative to said body while in contact with a surface varying with the height of said body above said surface, said feeler element including means to support said plate when in contact with a surface and to position said plate relative to said body and said crank shaft in accordance with its own position, and spring means acting to return said pedal to its initial position upon the withdrawal of said downward force to enable said crank shaft to engage said plate in its feeler-determinedrposition.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a wheel, mounting means pivotally connecting said wheel to saidbody, spring means urging said wheels in one direction relative to said body, a positioning element pivotally mounted on said body adapted selectively to engage and position said mounting means with said wheel at various heights relative to said body, operatoroperated means to disengage said mounting means from said positioning element, a spring-pressed feeler element pivoted on said body for movement into contact with an underlying surface and including means to position said positioning element, and means to return said operator-operated means to their original position upon the withdrawal of said force to enable said mounting means to engage said positioning element and to return said feeler element to its initial position.

7. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a supporting wheel for said body, mounting means movably mountin said wheel on said body, positioning means adjustably mounted on said body adapted to position said mounting means with respect to said body in cleaner operation, a feeler carried by said body adapted to contact and locate the plane of an underlying surface, said feeler being connected to saidwpositioning means to fix the adjustment thereof while in contact with an'underlying surface, operatoroperated means to adjust said mounting means to lower said wheel relative to said body to a predetermined position and to release said feeler to locate the plane of an underlying surface relative to said body, whereby said feeler can fix the adjustment of said positioning means, and means to bring said mounting means under the control of said positioning means to reposition said wheel and to raise said feeler.

8. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a supporting wheel for said body, munting means adjustably positioning said wheel on said body, positioning means including selectively engageable parts determining the adjustment of said mounting means on said body and so the position of said wheel with respect thereto, feeler means to set one of said parts of said positioning means carried by said body and arranged to move into contact with an underlying surface, and operator-operated means to lower said wheel with respect to said body to disengage said selectively engageable parts and to lower said feeler means to provide a. new setting for said one part of said positioning means.

RALPH c. OSBORN. 

